IWF120y/44 – 1968: Kaarlo Kangasniemi, an icon of Finnish weightlifting
This story starts in Kullaa, a tiny town in the western part of Finland. On February 4, 1941 Kaarlo Kangasniemi is born there and is part of a big clan: he is one of the 11 children of the family. There are eight boys and three girls, and five of these men will practice weightlifting throughout their lives. Kaarlo will be the most successful one. After a seventh place at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, he takes part in his second Games in 1968, in Mexico City. At 27, he becomes the first (and only one so far) Olympic champion for his country in weightlifting, earning gold in 172.5-157.5-187.5-517.5 (in the 90kg category). Four years later, in Munich 1972, he arrived in Germany with an ongoing injury, but still managed to place sixth. At the 1968 and 1972 rendezvous, his younger brother Kauko was also part of the Finnish delegation and was ranked seventh on both occasions. After the achievement in Mexico, Kaarlo was again the best at the World Championships, in Warsaw 1969. In 1971, he gets his second medal (silver) at the IWF showcase. Throughout his amazing career, he established 17 new World Records, and his best result at the international level was achieved at the 1970 European Championships, when he lifted 177.5-160-192.5-530. Only two other athletes from Finland medalled in Olympic weightlifting: Jouni Grönman and Pekka Niemi, both getting the bronze at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, respectively in the 67.5kg and 100kg category. At the World Championships, only one woman managed to get the gold so far: Karolina Lundahl, in 1994 and 1998.